January 2011
Ross couldn't disguise his anger at being given this stupid bear for Christmas. He squeezed it in disgust while saying 'Thank-you, Grandma!' through gritted teeth. He looked down, it was orange with eyes that stared accusingly at him. He could tell that the bear hated him already. The feeling was mutual. He stuffed it into his bag.
'Don't you like it?' she asked, surprised.
'I'm six, now, Grandma, not three!'
She looked upset, as if she was going to cry. He was glad, he wanted to hurt her. All the boys in his class got computer games. What would he do if they ever found out that he got a teddy bear for Christmas? Silently, she put her coat on and handed him his. He felt that bad feeling in his stomach remembering he had to go home. There was only Dad now, Mum wasn't there anymore.
Dad frightened him. He was okay sometimes, but when he smelt of drink, Ross had to be careful not to annoy him. Dad said that Mum had gone away for a holiday.
Dad lied. The boys at school laughed at him and told Ross that she was an addict and was in prison. Dad watches D.V.D.s about gangs and drugs and things. He never notices if Ross is there or not.
Gran was looking out for the bus, so he got the bear out of his bag. It kept staring at him with those stupid eyes. Ross pulled one of them right out, but then the bus came. He dropped the one-eyed teddy and kicked it into the gutter. They got on the bus, and it rumbled away.
Peter held his Mum's hand tightly as they walked along. She always told him to, in case anything happened to him. She called him her 'little ray of sunshine', 'darling' and 'treasure'. Mum was chatting to him about Christmas, Santa and what fun they would have opening presents when they got to Auntie Susan's.
He looked up at her and exclaimed loudly, 'I love you, Mum!' She bent down and hugged him. He closed his eyes and breathed in her lovely, flowery smell. When he opened them he saw something. 'Look, Mum!' he shouted as he bent to pick it up. 'It's a beautiful, golden, one-eyed teddy'.
Peter studied him. He was friendly, he was winking at Peter. He pulled the teddy to his chest and looked up, 'May I keep it, Mum?'